Ground mounted antenna support



Dec. 19, 1967 D. BURNS GROUND MOUNTED ANTENNA SUPPORT Filed Nov. 29,1965 INVENTOR. LOREN D. BURNS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,358,952GROUND MOUNTED ANTENNA SUPPORT Loren D. Burns, Douglass, Kans. 67039Filed Nov. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 510,176 2 Claims. (Cl. 24843) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to an antenna support,and more particularly to a ground engaging mounting support foranchoring television antennas, and the like. Still more specifically,this invention relates to an antenna support for connection to anantenna mast adjacent a supporting structure having (1) a base mountingmeans connectible to a supporting ground surface and the lower end ofthe upright mast, and (2) a bracket means connectible to the uprightmast and the adjacent supporting structure to provide both vertical andlateral stability thereto.

Conventional antenna support means are normally attached to the topportions of the roofs of houses and require the extensive use of guywires, cables, etc., and the drilling of holes into the roof, in orderto provide a rigid structure. Additionally, installation of theconventional antenna support means is a dangerous and exacting procedurerequiring the services of a skilled television technician. Also,television antennas of the prior art cannot readily be moved to the mostdesirable point of signal strength.

I have invented a new support for a vertically extended mast on a groundsurface adjacent an upright support structure. My new support has a basewhich has a projecting sidewall insertable into the ground. A clamp iscentrally secured to the base. The new support of my invention receivesthe end portion of a mast in supporting relation thereto and in contacttherewith. The clamp secures the mast, and the support anchors the mast.

In a preferred specific embodiment the support of my invention isemployed in combination with a bracket connectably to the upper portionof the mast, and the bracket is connectable to the upright supportstructure. The mast is then used to support an antenna on an upper endportion.

It is an object of this invention to provide new mounting means.

It is another object of this invention to provide new ground engagingsupport means for antenna masts.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved antenna mountmeans overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of conventionalantenna support means, and in particular the new television supportmeans of my invention can be located at any desirable point along theend or side of a building; can be made any desirable height, and doesnot interfere with the roof or reroofing the house in any way.

Another object of this invention is to provide an antenna ground mountsupport that can easily and quickly be assembled and secured to anadjacent supporting structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide an antenna ground mountsupport rigidly secured against vertical and horizontal movement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an antenna groundmount support that is readily assembled, simple to move for adjustment,and economical to manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an antenna mountsupport that is readily installed, accessible, and removable by thetypical home owner.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of preferred specific embodiments of the newantenna ground mount support of my invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the end of a house embodyinga preferred specific embodiment of the antenna ground mount support ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view partly in cross section of apreferred specific embodiment of the base mounting plate of the antennaground mount support of this invention connected to an antenna support;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the base mounting plate;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a mounting bracket of the antennamount support of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the mounting bracket; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

In the following is set forth a discussion and description of preferredspecific embodiments of the new antenna ground mount support of myinvention, made with reference to the drawings whereas the same numeralsare used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings,discussions and descriptions of this disclosure are not to unduly limitthe scope of my invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the antenna groundmount support assembly, indicated generally by numeral 12, comprises abase mounting plate 13 and mounting bracket 15 cooperating to rigidlysupport an elongated tubular antenna support 17 extended adjacent andvertically of a house 15. A standard mul tiple directional antenna 19 issecured as by conventional means to the upper end of the antenna support17.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base mounting plate 13 consists of asubstantially square central section 20 having the outer edges thereoflaterally bent the same direction to'form sidewalls 22. Each sidewall 22is of a trapezoidal shape having downwardly converging side edges 24. Anupright support plate 26 extends laterally of the central section 20 ina direction opposite of the sidewalls 22 and can be formed by a stampingprocess from the mid-portion of the section 20. A pair of spaced holes27 in the support plate 26 receive bolts 29 which are threaded intosimilarly spaced threaded holes 31 in a clamp plate 33. The clamp plate33 is formed with a right angular shaped mid-section 35 having oppositeends thereof integral with connector sections 37. It is seen that theconnector sections 37 extend in a common plane and are formed with thethreaded holes 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the bolts 29 are rotatable toselectively move the clamp plate 33 relative to the upright supportplate 26 whereby the tubular antenna support 17 may be clamped in threepoint contact between the sides of the mid-section 35 and the innersurface of the support plate 26.

Referring to the mounting bracket 15 as shown in FIG. 5, the bracket 15comprises a base plate 39 interconnected by bolts 41 to a clamp member42. The :base plate 39 is of an irregular shape having a mid-portion 44extended parallel and laterally spaced from attachment sections 45integral with opposite ends thereof. The bolts 41 are extended throughholes in the mid-portion 44 of the base plate 39 and threaded into holes47 in the clamp member 42. The clamp member 42 has a V-shaped centralportion 48 similar in shape and function to the midsection 35 of theclamp plate 33 previously described. It is seen, therefore, that thebolts 41 are rotatable to move the clamp member 42 relative to the baseplate 39 to secure the tubular antenna support 17 therebetween (FIG. 1).

Furthermore, it is seen that the central portion 48 and attachmentsections 45 are sufficiently spaced to receive the antenna support 17and the clamp member 42 between the inner surface of the mid-portion 44and outer surface of the attachment sections 45.

In the use and construction of the antenna ground mount support assembly12, the base mounting plate 13 is secured to the lower end of thetubular antenna support 17 by insertion thereof between the supportplate 26 and the clamp plate 33 and actuation of the bolts 29 to secureby clamp the base mounting plate 13 to the antenna support 17. As shownin FIG. 1, the vertically extended antenna support 17 is moved to adesired position adjacent the house 18 which produces the maximum signalreception. The base mounting support 13 is then forced as by footpressure or hammer action into a supporting ground surface 52. It isseen that the wedge-shaped sidewalls 22 are forced into the surface 52to provide lateral stability to the lower portion of the tubular antennasupport 17 In order to provide additional and desirable support to theelongated antenna support 17, the mounting bracket 15 is placed aboutthe tubular antenna support 17 and moved vertica ly to a positionwherein the attachment sections 45 are positionable flush against a sidewall of the house 18 or the roof overhang 54. The bracket 15 is rigidlysecured thereto by screws 54 inserted through holes in the attachmentsection 45 and threaded into the roof overhang 54 of the house. Thebolts 41 can then be rotated to rigidly clamp the antenna support 17between the base plate 39 and the clamp member 42. It is seen,therefore, that the antenna ground mount assembly 12 provides a rigidstructure that can be rapidly constructed, adjusted, and disassembledwith a minimum of time and tools by one not skilled in the art.

It is obvious that the antenna ground mount assembly 12 can be erectedadjacent any side or end of the house 18 or any vertical structure thatwould provide an upward section for attachment of the mounting bracket15, or the like. Similarly, it is obvious that the base mounting plate13 could rest upon a solid supporting surface, such as concrete, with .aplurality of spaced mounting brackets 15 secured to the side of thehouse 18 providing for the antenna ground mount support assembly 12.

The antenna ground mount support assembly can be installed withoutinterfering in any way with the roof, of the house such as putting holestherein or hindering re-roofing. It is simple to assemble the antennasupport assembly, and also to disassemble and transport the same to anew location thereby resulting in considerable savings in time and moneyto the owner.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, various alternate constructions and modifications can be madewithin the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting means for use in supporting a vertically extended mast ona ground surface adjacent an upright support structure, comprising:

(a) a base means connectible to the lower end of the mast extendingtransversely thereof, said base means connectible to said ground surfacefor lateral stability,

(b) said base means includes a plate member having downwardly extendinganchor walls about the outer periphery thereof, and an upwardly extendedclamp member,

(c) said clamp member including a wall member integral with said platemember and a movable wedge plate,

(d) means connecting said wedge plate to said wall member whereby saidwedge plate is movable to clamp the must between said Wall member andsaid wedge plate,

(e) bracket means connectible to an upper portion of a mast to preventvertical movement of the mast, and

(f) means for securing said bracket means to the support structurewhereby the mast is rigidly anchored against vertical and lateralmovement by said mounting means.

2. A mounting means for use in supporting a vertically extended mast ona ground surface, comprising:

(a) a base means for support of the mast having a clamp member securedthereto,

(b) said base means having a base plate centrally apertured and anintegral, laterally extended portion of said base plate forming a firstupright part of said clamp member,

(0) said clamp member having a second part releasably mounted on saidfirst part whereby the lower end of the mast is extendable between saidfirst part and said second part and supportable on the upper surface ofsaid base plate, and

(d) said base plate having four downwardly extending sidewalls oftrapezoidal shape with outwardly converging edges whereby said sidewallsare readily insertable within the ground surface for lateral stability.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,268 1/ 1903 Slyder 248-431,255,557 2/1918 Norman 248-44 2,525,890 10/1950 Gage 119-121 2,698,8731/1955 Allsworth et al. 248-43 X 2,714,496 8/ 1955 Doyle 248-382,744,704 5/ 1956 Johnson 248-45 2,929,593 3/ 1960 Rosenwinkel 248-45JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner.

1. A MOUNTING MEANS FOR USE IN SUPPORTING A VERTICALLY EXTENDED MAST ONA GROUND SURFACE ADJACENT AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT STRUCTURE, COMPRISING: (A)A BASE MEANS CONNECTIBLE TO THE LOWER END OF THE MAST EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY THEREOF, SAID BASE MEANS CONNECTIBLE TO SAID GROUND SURFACEFOR LATERAL STABILITY, (B) SAID BASE MEANS INCLUDES A PLATE MEMBERHAVING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ANCHOR WALLS ABOUT THE OUTER PERIPHERYTHEREOF, AND AN UPWARDLY EXTENDED CLAMP MEMBER, (C) SAID CLAMP MEMBERINCLUDING A WALL MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH SAID PLATE MEMBER AND A MOVABLEWEDGE PLATE, (D) MEANS CONNECTING SAID WEDGE PLATE TO SAID WALL MEMBERWHEREBY SAID WEDGE PLATE IS MOVABLE TO CLAMP THE MUST BETWEEN SAID WALLMEMBER AND SAID WEDGE PLATE, (E) BRACKET MEANS CONNECTIBLE TO AN UPPERPORTION OF A MAST TO PREVENT VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE MAST, AND (F)MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BRACKET MEANS TO THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE WHEREBYTHE MAST IS RIGIDLY ANCHORED AGAINST VERTICAL AND LATERAL MOVEMENT BYSAID MOUNTING MEANS.